Chester County, PA, was selected as the winner of the 2016 Road and Bridge Safety Improvement Award Program for the replacement of County Bridge #282 on Church Road over Valley Creek in Tredyffrin Township. The award will be presented at the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) Annual Conference and Trade Show on August 10. Chester County’s Facilities & Parks Department worked with Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. for design and McCormick Taylor for construction management/inspection. McCormick Taylor also submitted the award application on behalf of the County.

Tredyffrin discovered a localized failure in a weight restricted stone masonry culvert only months before the scheduled construction of Bridge #282. The Township hired McCormick Taylor, the County’s Bridge Engineer, to coordinate and fast-track a design and the construction of the failed structure to ensure that the County’s replacement of Bridge #282 could proceed immediately after. Construction management and inspection was provided by the McCormick Taylor team and the project was completed on time and under budget. Construction commenced in February 2015 and took only six months to complete, with the bridge reopening to traffic on August 28, 2015. The close coordination between County and Township officials was critical to keeping the delays to the community on this important roadway minimal.

The newly reconstructed Bridge #282 improves public safety in a variety of ways, including:

The new bridge provides for two-lane, two-way traffic to meet the configuration of the approach roadway.

The new bridge is unrestricted for weight and allows all legal loads, whereas the old bridge was restricted to a 20-ton capacity.

Jersey-type concrete bridge barriers were installed, which reduce the likelihood that a speeding vehicle can fall to the creek.

The bridge span was lengthened by 13’-6” to reduce the design flood elevation by over eight inches and to allow the passage of larger debris under the structure.

Paving the hidden driveway just north of the bridge draws attention to the entrance as drivers approach.